Mauby is a traditional Barbados drink brewed from tree bark and warm spices, then sweetened and served very cold.
A concentrated bark infusion with cinnamon, clove, orange peel, and star anise is strained, diluted, and balanced with brown sugar and lime.
Keep a gentle bitter finish; mauby loses its character if it is diluted or sweetened too heavily.
Serving Suggestions
Serve over ice on a hot afternoon with a thin lime wheel.
Recipe Notes
Brew one day ahead for easy chilling; refrigerated mauby keeps for five days.
Bajan Mauby
A traditional Barbados drink brewed from mauby bark with cinnamon, clove, citrus, and brown sugar.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Large heatproof pitcher
- Wooden spoon
- Serving glasses
Ingredients
Mauby Concentrate
- 2 oz dried mauby bark rinsed briefly
- 4 cups water
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 4 strips orange peel each about 3 inches long
- 1 whole star anise
Finish and Serve
- 6 cups cold water
- 1 cup dark brown sugar or to taste
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp aromatic bitters
- 24 whole ice cubes for serving
- 1 whole lime thinly sliced
Instructions
Brew Concentrate:
- Combine the mauby bark, 4 cups water, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and star anise in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from the heat and steep for 30 minutes.
Strain and Sweeten:
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher, pressing the bark lightly, then discard the solids.
- Stir in the brown sugar while the concentrate is warm. Add the cold water, lime juice, and bitters. Taste and adjust sugar or water; mauby should keep a pleasant bitter edge.
Chill and Serve:
- Cool completely, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Serve over ice with a thin lime slice.
Notes
- Mauby bark strength varies, so dilute the concentrate to taste before adding more sugar.
- The drink keeps refrigerated for five days; stir before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 110kcalCarbohydrates: 29gSodium: 12mgSugar: 27g